JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PS 331i"
COURSE NAME: "Psychology of Objectification & Dehumanization- HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elisa Puvia
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:30-5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: PS 210 (PS 334 or PS 307 recommended)
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course is organized around the theme of objectification, that is, the perception of human bodies, especially female bodies, as “objects”. It explores the ways in which bodies (both one’s own and that of others) are objectified, and how being objectified can impact individuals’ social functioning, well-being, and their perception in human terms (dehumanization). The course will familiarize students with different theoretical perspectives on objectification as well as empirical findings, allowing them to develop a critical appreciation of this complex phenomenon, its psychological, social, and cultural consequences, and its impact on the perpetration of gender-based crimes.

Satisfies "Cognitive” and “Sociocultural Area" core course requirement for Psychological Science majors.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course follows a seminar format where students learn to reflect upon the issues at hand by critically discussing the assigned readings. The course first introduces traditional literature on socio-cognitive theory about gender roles, schema and gendered behaviours. It then addresses the theoretical perspectives that have attempted to define and frame the phenomenon of objectification, its existential roots, and its cultural foundations. In the second part of the course, attention is devoted toward the understanding of the psychological, social and cultural consequences of objectification. Relevant topics include the relationship between objectification and gender-based violence, the role of media in promoting (self-) objectification, and the impact of objectification on body image and self-esteem. A separate section is reserved to the analysis of the dehumanizing consequences of objectification, and the possible motivations that drive men and women to objectify and even dehumanize objectified targets.

TEXTBOOK

No textbook. The course is based on a selection of academic research papers, book chapters, and popular media. Sample readings are listed in the schedule. The final reading list will be made available on the course website.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course students should be able to:

 

1.     Understand the socio-cognitive processes involved in objectification and critically evaluate theoretical and methodological approaches to the phenomenon.  (LOS1)

2.     Identify and explain the psychological, social, and cultural implications of objectification in everyday life (LOS1)

3.     Accurately summarize, critically evaluate, and apply information from psychological sources to analyze everyday instances of objectification (LOS2)

4.     Demonstrate effective writing and presentation skills. Write using APA style. (LOS3)
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm examDuring the semester, a closed-book, closed-notes, in-person midterm exam will be administered (LOS1 and LOS2). The exam will be available on Moodle. It will review the assigned readings, lectures, and additional material covered in the preceding classes. This exam is a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. 15
Annotated bibliographyYou will (1) review and identify five peer-reviewed articles you select on a topic related to the course; (2) provide a brief (1-2 paragraphs) review of each article; (3) extend the discussion of the article in some original way (i.e., make clear implications and recommendations about future research in this area); and (4) apply the concepts learned in the class to the outside world. The assignment should be written in APA style. More details about each paper will be provided during the semester.35
PresentationStudents will formally present the outcome of their research during finals week. They will give a 5-minute presentation with an additional 2 minutes for questions.10
HONORSIn order to receive honors in this course, the student will need to obtain a grade of B or higher on an extra assignment. This will generally consist in a research paper/presentation on a topic of interest to the student, that will be discussed with the instructor on the first week of class. NOTE: your grade for the class will be independent of receiving the honors.0
Writing AssignmentsThere will be 2 short papers in this class, each approximately 2-4 pages in length. These papers will allow you the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in the class to the outside world. These assignments do not have clear-cut answers. The questions are complex and multi-faceted and will assess your ability to critical evaluate contemporary tensions in the field. More details about each paper will be provided during the semester. 30
Weekly ParticipationParticipation is essential and a part of your final grade. Participation is more than simply talking or “being” in class. High quality participation is more than just making sure you speak in class, but rather, includes making connections between discussions, readings, and relevant current events; taking an active part in in-class exercises; coming to office hours; and/or asking questions about readings and lectures.10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is STRONGLY recommended. Some material - such as in-depth description of studies, examples, exercises, etc. – will only be presented in class. It is your responsibility to arrive in class ON TIME. Please try not to arrive late and/or leave early. Should you arrive late, or need to leave early, please sit in the back of the class, to avoid disrupting class. Individual students who have to miss class should notify the professor in advance to make arrangements.

Laptops and Other Devices. The use of laptop or tablet computer in class is only allowed to take notes. If you are found to use it for other purposes, you will lose this privilege. The use of smartphone in class in not allowed. Likewise, you may not use a music player or headphones, unless they are attached to a hearing-assistive device approved by the professor (i.e., me). If you are given such an exception, it will be immediately and permanently revoked if you abuse the technology for off-topic purposes. For certain activities in-class, the instructor may request you to bring a laptop or to take it out and use it for that specific purpose.

Examination policy

A major exam (midterm or final) cannot be made up without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE
 
 
 
 
   

PART I: Nature of the phenomenon of objectification

Week

Topic

Reading

WEEK 1

Introduction to gender schema, norms and gendered behaviour.

Martin, A. E., & Slepian, M. L. (2021). The primacy of gender: Gendered cognition underlies the big two dimensions of social cognition.Perspectives on Psychological Science,16(6), 1143-1158.

 

Martin, A. E., & Mason, M. F. (2022). What does it mean to be (seen as) human? The importance of gender in humanization.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

 

Mikorski, R., & Szymanski, D. M. (2017). Masculine norms, peer group, pornography, Facebook, and men’s sexual objectification of women.Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 18(4), 257–267.https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000058

 

WEEK 2

Objectification theory

& Self-objectification – Part I

Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's lived experiences and mental health risks.Psychology of women quarterly,21(2), 173-206.

 

Roberts, T-A, Calogero, R. M., & Gervais, S. J. (2018). Objectification theory: Continuing contributions to feminist psychology. In C. B. Travis, J. W. White, A. Rutherford, W. S. Williams, S. L. Cook, & K. F. Wyche (Eds.), APA handbooks in psychology®.APA handbook of the psychology of women: History, theory, and battlegrounds(p. 249–271).

 

Ward, L.M., Daniels, E.A., Zurbriggen, E.L.et al.The sources and consequences of sexual objectification.Nat Rev Psychol2, 496–513 (2023).https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-023-00192-x

 

Further readings:

Du, X., Li, Q., Xiang, G., Xiao, M., Liu, X., Chen, X., ...& Chen, H. (2022). The relationship between brain neural correlates, self-objectification, and interoceptive sensibility.Behavioural Brain Research, 114227.

 

Felig, R. N., Jordan, J. A., Shepard, S. L., Courtney, E. P., Goldenberg, J. L., & Roberts, T. A. (2022). When looking ‘hot’ means not feeling cold: Evidence that self‐objectification inhibits feelings of being cold.British Journal of Social Psychology,61(2), 455-470.

 

WEEK 3

Objectification theory

& Self-objectification – Part II

Calogero, R. M. (2012). Objectification theory, self-objectification, and body image. In T. F. Cash (Ed.),Encyclopedia of body image and human appearance(pp. 574–580). Elsevier Academic Press.

 

Moradi B, Tebbe E: A test of Objectification Theory with sexual minority women.Psychol Women Q2022,46:226-240, https://doi. org/10.1177/03616843211052525.

 

Saguy, T., Quinn, D. M., Dovidio, J. F., & Pratto, F. (2010). Interacting Like a Body: Objectification Can Lead Women to Narrow Their Presence in Social Interactions. Psychological Science, 21(2), 178-182.

 https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797609357751

 

WEEK 4

Cultural foundations of objectification/self-objectification

 

Steve Loughnan, Silvia Fernandez, Jeroen Vaes, Gulnaz Anjum, Mudassar Aziz, Chika Harada, Elise Holland, Indramani Singh,Elisa Puvia,& Koji Tsuchiya (2015). Exploring the role of culture in sexual objectification: A seven nations study of sexual objectification.International Review of Social Psychology, 28(1), 63-93,125-152.

 

Thompson, J. K., Van Den Berg, P., Roehrig, M., Guarda, A. S., & Heinberg, L. J. (2004). The sociocultural attitudes towards appearance scale‐3 (SATAQ‐3): Development and validation.International journal of eating disorders,35(3), 293-304.

 

Further readings:

Frederick, D. A., Crerand, C. E., Brown, T. A., Perez, M., Best, C. R., Cook-Cottone, C. P., ... & Murray, S. B. (2022). Demographic predictors of body image satisfaction: The US Body Project I.Body Image,41, 17-31.

 

WEEK 5

The impact of individual differences on objectification

 

Puvia, E., & Vaes, J. (2013). Being abody: Women’s appearance related self-views and their dehumanization of sexually objectified female targets.Sex Roles, 68, 484-495, doi: 10.1007/s11199-012-0255-y

 

Liss, M., Erchull, M. J., & Ramsey, L. R. (2011). Empowering or oppressing? Development and exploration of the Enjoyment of Sexualization Scale.Personality and social psychology bulletin,37(1), 55-68.

 

Bareket O, Shnabel N: Domination and objectification: men’s motivation for dominance over women affects their tendency

to sexually objectify women.Psychol Women Q2020, 44:28-49, https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684319871913.

 

WEEK 6

(Self) Objectification of men

Aubrey, J. S., & Taylor, L. D. (2009). The role of lad magazines in priming men’s chronic and temporary appearance-related schemata: An investigation of longitudinal and experimental findings.Human Communication Research,35(1), 28-58.

 

Strelan P, Hargreaves D: Women who objectify other women: the vicious circle of objectification?Sex Roles2005, 52https://doi. org/10.1007/s11199-005-3737-3

 

Kozak, M., Frankenhauser, H., & Roberts, T. (2009). Objects of desire: Objectification as a function of male sexual orientation.Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 10,225–230. doi:10.1037/a0016257

Daniel, S., Bridges, S. K., & Martens, M. P. (2014). The development and validation of the Male Assessment of Self-Objectification (MASO).Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(1), 78–89.https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031518

 

WEEK 7

Terror Management Theory (TMT) – Part I

Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., & Greenberg, J. (2015). Thirty years of terror management theory: From genesis to revelation. InAdvances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 52, pp. 1-70). Academic Press.

 

WEEK 8

Terror Management Theory (TMT – Part II

Goldenberg, J. L., & Roberts, T. A. (2004). The beast within the beauty.Handbook of Experimental Existential Psychology, 71-75.

 

Grabe, S., Routledge, C., Cook, A., Andersen, C., & Arndt, J. (2005). In defence of the body: The effect of mortality salience on female body objectification.Psychology of Women Quarterly,29(1), 33-37.

 

Morris, K. L., & Goldenberg, J. (2015). Objects become her: The role of mortality salience on men's attraction to literally objectified women.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,56, 69-72.

WEEK 9

Midterm exam

 

PART II: Psychological, Social and Cultural consequences of objectification

WEEK 10

(self-)Dehumanization:

Investigating humanness – Part I

Haslam, N., Loughnan, S., Reynolds, C., & Wilson, S. (2007). Dehumanization: A new perspective.Social and Personality Psychology Compass,1(1), 409-422.

Loughnan S, Baldissarri C, Spaccatini F, Elder L: Internalizing objectification: objectified individuals see themselves as less warm, competent, moral, and human.Br J Soc Psychol2017,56:217-232, https://doi.org/10.1111/BJSO.12188

 

Heflick, N.A., Goldenberg, J.L., Cooper, D.P., & Puvia, E. (2011). From women to objects: Appearance focus, target gender, and perceptions of warmth, morality and competence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,47, 572-581. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2010.12.020.

 

WEEK 11

(self-)Dehumanization:

Investigating humanness – Part II

Vaes, J., Paladino, M.P., & Puvia, E. (2011).Are sexualized female targets human beings? Why males and females dehumanize sexually objectified women.European Journal of Social Psychology, 41,774-785.doi: 10.1002/ejsp.824

 

Morris, K. L., & Goldenberg, J. (2015). Objects become her: The role of mortality salience on men's attraction to literally objectified women.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,56,69-72.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.09.005

 
WEEK 12 Objectification and Crime

Pacilli, M. G., Pagliaro, S., Loughnan, S., Gramazio, S., Spaccatini, F., & Baldry, A. C. (2017).Sexualization reduces helping intentions towards female victims of intimate partner violence through mediation of moral patiency.British Journal of Social Psychology,56(2), 293-313.

 

Donnelly, LC,Calogero, RM.The role of stranger harassment experiences in college women's perceived possibility of gender crimes happening to them.J Appl Soc Psychol.2018;48:165–173.https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12497

 

Loughnan, S., Pina, A., Vasquez, E.,& Puvia, E.(2013).Sexual objectification increases rape victim blame and decreases perceived suffering.Psychology of Women Quarterly,37, 455-461,doi: 10.1177/0361684313485718

WEEK 13

Preliminary research proposal ideas discussion

 

WEEK 14

Objectification and media

 

Guizzo, F., Canale, N., & Fasoli, F. (2021).Instagram Sexualization: When posts make you feel dissatisfied and wanting to change your body.Body image,39, 62-67.

 

Chen, S., van Tilburg, W. A., & Leman, P. J. (2022). Self‐objectification in women predicts approval motivation in online self‐presentation.British Journal of Social Psychology,61(1), 366-388.

 

Veldhuis, J., Alleva, J. M., Bij de Vaate, A. J., Keijer, M., & Konijn, E. A. (2020). Me, my selfie, and I: The relations between selfie behaviors, body image, self-objectification, and self-esteem in young women.Psychology of Popular Media,9(1), 3.

 

Further readings:

Galdi, S., Maass, A., & Cadinu, M. (2014). Objectifying Media: Their Effect on Gender Role Norms and Sexual Harassment of Women.Psychology of Women Quarterly,38(3), 398–413.https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684313515185

 

Karsay, K., Knoll, J., & Matthes, J. (2018). Sexualizing media use and self-objectification: A meta-analysis.Psychology of women quarterly,42(1), 9-28.

 

Online resources:

https://en.lorellazanardo.it/womens-bodies/documentary/

https://sexybabymovie.com/index.php

 

FINALS WEEK

Research project presentations